The Indigo Girls made their politics crystal clear Sunday night during their dual-headlining concert with Melissa Etheridge at the Minnesota State Fair Grandstand.
The duo performed their 90-minute set standing in front of a mock schoolroom, with the phrase “Stand up for the lookout” scrawled across a chalkboard surrounded by a series of signs denouncing ICE, Education Secretary Linda McMahon and, indirectly, Donald Trump.
Amy Ray did dedicate her solo song “Laramie,” which is about the late Matthew Shepard, to trans and queer kids, their parents, teachers and healthcare workers, but it wasn’t an evening of airing grievances. Instead, it felt like Ray and Emily Saliers were playing a backyard party for 13,929 joyful friends (including both Tim Walz and Peggy Flanagan). At one point, Ray even praised the crowd for having such great “Minnesota vibes.”
Their set list drew heavily from their ’90s work, with a few more contemporary selections, like “S— Kickin’” from their most recent album, “Look Long.” “Get Out the Map” had many women in the audience up on their feet, swaying along to the music, while “Galileo” turned into an audience sing-along. (It probably helped Saliers, whose voice has noticeably diminished. It’s unclear if it’s a temporary issue.)
A nimble five-piece band backed the duo, who also welcomed singer/songwriter (and daughter of folk icons Loudon Wainwright III and Suzzy Roche) Lucy Wainwright Roche to share the stage. Roche added guitar and vocals and even got to perform one of her own songs, “Open Season.”
They wrapped with an electrifying “Kid Fears” and their signature song “Closer to Fine,” both accompanied by Etheridge to the thrill of the crowd.
Melissa Etheridge performs at YouTube Theater on July 26, 2024 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images)
After a 25-minute break, Etheridge returned for her own set, a loose and freewheeling performance that saw her draw out the instrumental passages of her songs to showcase her talents on the guitar.
She opened with “Bring Me Some Water,” her 1988 debut single that made it to No. 10 on the rock radio chart. Like the Indigo Girls, she stuck to her older material. But she freshened up 1996’s “I Want to Come Over” by turning it into a medley with Chappell Roan’s “Red Wine Supernova.” The Indigo Girls returned to the stage to back up Etheridge’s “You Can Sleep While I Drive.”
By the time she got to her big hits “Come to My Window” and “I’m the Only One,” the crowd was giddy with delight. Judging by the gleeful buzz, this is a concert fans will be talking about for some time to come.
Related Articles
Review: Minnesota State Fairgrounds hosts a high-energy hip-hop fest once again
Concert review: Benson Boone flips out at Xcel Energy Center
State Fair Grandstand review: Meghan Trainor hosts an enjoyable dance party sans band
Pixies guitarist Joey Santiago talks songwriting, touring and hearing their music on TikTok
Review: Mixed Precipitation’s zany production fuses Mozart’s classic opera with doo-wop music
Leave a Reply